Business Before the Senate (Cong. Rec., May 20, 2020)
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record for Wednesday, May 20, 2020, Vol. 166, No. 95, opening with the Senate proceedings. The House was not in session and its next meeting will be Friday, May 22, 2020, at 11 a.m. Mr. Grassley recognizes the Daily Iowan, the University of Iowa's independent newspaper, for being named Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper. Under Business Before the Senate, Mr. McConnell says the House has met for 2 legislative session days since March, criticizes impeachment claims and Planned Parenthood loans, and says the PPP has pushed $500 billion into the economy. A tribute to the Attending Physician, Dr. Monahan, follows.
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“Business Before the Senate (Cong. Rec., May 20, 2020).”
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Congressional Record
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116 th CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
United States
of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE
Vol. 166 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020 No. 95
House of Representatives
The House was not in session today. Its next meeting will be held on Friday, May 22, 2020, at 11 a.m.
Senate
WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020
The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was RECOGNIZING THE DAILY IOWAN and we are working for the American
called to order by the President pro Mr. GRASSLEY. Journalists, as we people. All month, we have been in ses-
tempore (Mr. GRASSLEY). all know, serve as the watchdog for ac- sion, passing national security legisla-
f countability, particularly to keep gov- tion, confirming key nominees, and
ernment responsible. These journalists holding hearings on the coronavirus
PRAYER
inform and investigate issues impor- crisis and the effectiveness of the his-
The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- toric rescue package the Senate wrote
tant to their readers, from human in-
fered the following prayer: and the Senate passed.
Let us pray. terests to public interests. Right now,
a lot of focus is upon the COVID–19 We are heeding medical guidance and
Heavenly Father, today, restore in taking new precautions, but we are
our lawmakers faith in the ultimate pandemic.
The University of Iowa’s independent showing up and getting things done.
triumph of Your plan for our Nation
newspaper, the Daily Iowan, has been Over across the Rotunda, in the
and world. Help them to realize that
named the ‘‘Best All-Around Daily Stu- House, crickets—their lights are off.
the power of Your providence will en-
dent Newspaper’’ by the Society of Pro- The doors are locked. The people’s
able them to navigate every challenge
fessional Journalists. This prestigious House has shown up for a grand total of
and tragedy. Trusting in Your might,
honor follows its recognition as the 2 legislative session days since March.
may they embrace Your promise to do
2020 ‘‘Newspaper of the Year’’ by the Well, 2 days in 8 weeks is a blistering
more for them than they can ask or
Iowa Newspaper Association. pace.
imagine.
Lord, in spite of difficulties, dis- I come to the floor to commend the Last week, they flew into town to
appointments, and despair, reassure team of collegiate journalists in the pass Speaker PELOSI’s latest 1,800-page
them that You are still in control. Re- student-run newsroom at the Daily liberal wish list. Diversity and inclu-
mind us all that in everything You are Iowan. These awards show that the sion in the marijuana industry wasn’t
working for the good of those who love staff’s hard work and commitment to going to study itself, after all. That
You, who are called according to Your their craft rise above the rest. had to be an A–1 priority during this
purposes. You are the cream of the crop. Con- crisis. The Speaker’s proposal was so
We pray in Your loving Name. Amen. gratulations and keep up the good unserious and so far left that it could
work. not even unite her own conference.
f
I yield the floor. Even after a 2-month sabbatical, House
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE f Democrats could not contribute any-
The President pro tempore led the thing serious.
RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY Yet they did find the time to keep
Pledge of Allegiance, as follows:
LEADER fishing for another impeachment. More
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the
United States of America, and to the Repub- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- than a year after the Mueller report
lic for which it stands, one nation under God, jority leader is recognized. thoroughly debunked the collusion
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. f conspiracy theory, Democrats are still
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. pursuing the administration in court
LOEFFLER). The Senator from Iowa. BUSINESS BEFORE THE SENATE over that document. In a new Supreme
Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, Court brief the day before yesterday,
ask unanimous consent to speak for 1 week after week, this Capitol has been House Democrats said they have the
minute in morning business. a study in contrasts. Call it the tale of right to continue because—listen to
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without two Chambers. Over here in the Senate, this—the President’s impeachment did
objection, it is so ordered. the lights are on, the doors are open, not actually end with his acquittal.
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.
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S2512 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 20, 2020
The House Democrats are now claim- abortion above all else. Disrespecting The last time our Nation faced a pan-
ing the impeachment that ended in human life is their central mission, and demic on this scale, the 1918 Spanish
February is not really over. Their brief they just took advantage of a national flu, the Attending Physician’s office
says they are weighing ‘‘whether to crisis and helped themselves to tens of was still more than a decade away from
recommend new articles of impeach- millions of taxpayer dollars they were even existing. Dr. Monahan has had to
ment.’’ And referring to Chairman clearly forbidden from taking. break unprecedented ground in his cru-
NADLER’s Judiciary Committee, ‘‘the It goes without saying that the cial role on multiple levels, but, true to
Committee’s investigation did not money must be sent back imme- form, he has adapted on the fly to serve
cease with the conclusion of the im- diately—right now. As we shine a light his country.
peachment trial.’’ That is Chairman on Planned Parenthood’s misrepresen- Dr. Monahan has developed detailed
NADLER’s argument in a court case. tations, we cannot let their actions advice for Members and committees.
Perpetual investigation and per- jeopardize this important program His team is working around the clock
petual impeachment—if only someone with the tens of millions of Americans to answer questions and to keep us
could have predicted this. If only any- who are benefiting from it rightly. healthy. Expertise and attention to de-
one had warned that House Democrats’ Remember, the PPP has pushed $500 tail are nothing new from our Attend-
opening the Pandora’s box of weak im- billion into the economy across more ing Physician, who has spent a proud
peachments would affect our country than 4 million loans. The average loan career in military service. The Senate
into the future. Of course, Senate and size is just $118,000, giving paychecks is lucky that the public service of this
House Republicans warned precisely instead of pink slips for tens of mil- decorated rear admiral and celebrated
that, and here we are. lions of Americans. instructor has brought him to us. We
It is a suitable complement to the My hometown of Louisville, KY, is certainly are grateful to him and his
other ongoing incident, where a Fed- home to the baseball bat factory that entire team.
eral judge has taken it upon himself to makes the world-famous Louisville I am happy to report that we aren’t
prolong a case that the actual prosecu- Slugger. For a few months, the bat fac- the only ones taking notice.
tors want to drop. tory was a temporary casualty of Mr. President, as a measure of our
These are fascinating legal stand- COVID–19. This month, the manufac- collective gratitude, I ask unanimous
ards. Investigations no longer end turer secured a PPP loan, and 171 em- consent that this recent New York
when a jury acquits someone and pros- ployees were pulled off furlough and Times feature profile of Dr. Monahan
ecutions no longer end when charges put right back on the payroll. So 171 be printed in the RECORD.
are dropped. The House Democrats family stories went from pain and There being no objection, the mate-
would rather spend a fourth consecu- chaos back to stability because of this rial was ordered to be printed in the
tive year trying to cram their politics program. That is just one business in RECORD, as follows:
into the legal system than actually one city in one State. [From the New York Times, May 16, 2020]
govern the country during a pandemic. There is also an automotive parts DOCTOR TO CONGRESS AND SUPREME COURT
Fortunately, as I laid out, the Senate supplier and a hoagie shop in Michigan, TOILS TO SIDESTEP POLITICS AMID PANDEMIC
is up to the job. Every single day, the a fresh flower shop in Arizona, a burger (By Emily Cochrane)
historic CARES Act that we wrote and joint and a community nonprofit in WASHINGTON—When Senator John Bar-
passed to fight this pandemic continues North Carolina, and on and on and on. rasso, Republican of Wyoming, sought guid-
to come online. Direct payments hit Four million loans across all 50 States ance on how to protect his family, including
families’ accounts. Support for major and new loans are still being issued as his 94-year-old father-in-law, when he re-
industries helps to prevent mass lay- we speak. This is what serious legisla- turned home from the nation’s capital amid
offs. Resources for doctors, nurses, hos- the coronavirus pandemic, a doctor offered
tion looks like. This is what serious so- him some blunt advice.
pitals, and healthcare providers help to lutions can accomplish. Don’t go home just yet, Dr. Brian P.
stabilize the system from coast to Every day, the Senate’s work is pay- Monahan, the attending physician of Con-
coast. ing dividends to working families all gress, told Mr. Barrasso, directing him to
The Paycheck Protection Program across our country. quarantine for 14 days before rejoining his
has saved tens of millions of jobs for The pandemic is not all we are work- family. ‘‘You’re a visitor,’’ Dr. Monahan
American workers. From big cities to ing on. The Senate is also staying on said.
small towns, to industrial suburbs, to top of foreign relations, national secu- But when House Democratic leaders want-
farm country, Senate Republicans’ bold ed counsel on whether they could safely re-
rity, and the personnel business. convene in the Capitol with Covid–19 still
program is turning potential pink slips Yesterday, the Intelligence Com- spreading—a debate with political dimen-
into paychecks every single day. mittee reported out the nomination of sions as a partisan divide was emerging
To be sure, the program is imperfect. the next Director of the National Intel- across the country over how quickly to re-
That was guaranteed when banks had ligence. The Armed Services Com- open—Dr. Monahan was less absolute. Re-
to cram multiple years’ worth of lend- mittee reported out nominations for turning to Washington carried health risks
ing into a few weeks. Yesterday, we Secretary of the Navy, Chief of Staff of he would not recommend taking, he told
saw a glaring example of that imper- the Air Force, and Deputy Under Sec- Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Rep-
fection. The legislation we passed con- resentative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the
retary of Defense for Policy. majority leader. But it was up to them to de-
tains specific eligibility requirements. I hope our Democratic colleagues cide what to do.
One rule said affiliates of national non- will not block the Senate from filling They opted to delay their return, and on
profits could not pose as small non- these key national security vacancies Friday, partly because of Dr. Monahan’s
profits and ask for money. But because before we adjourn later this week. warnings, moved forward with plans to insti-
time was and is of the essence, the leg- f tute remote voting in the future.
islation set up a process of initial self- It was typical of Dr. Monahan, the 59-year-
certification with review to follow, TRIBUTE TO DR. BRIAN MONAHAN old Navy rear admiral who is known in the
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, halls of the Capitol as much for his meticu-
rather than lengthy vetting upfront
lous attention to medical detail as he is for
that would have slowed the emergency throughout this health crisis, the Sen- his efforts to stay completely out of politics.
money for rightful recipients. ate, its Members, and our staffs have ‘‘He is both an executive with lots of
We learned yesterday that the Na- been lucky to have the steady leader- health care responsibilities—particularly
tion’s largest abortion provider, ship of Dr. Brian Monahan in our cor- now—and also has the unique relationship
Planned Parenthood, abused this emer- ner. Our Attending Physician has re- with members that a small-town doctor
gency process and grabbed tens of mil- sponded with the same ability and pro- would have with the patients he knows and
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
lions of dollars of taxpayer money for fessionalism that have benefited Con- sees,’’ said Senator Roy Blunt, Republican of
Missouri and chairman of the Senate Rules
which they were completely ineligible. gress and the Supreme Court for more
Committee. ‘‘He’s in a unique role at a
This is the organization that fired its than a decade. His continued guidance unique time’’
new president last year because she is making it possible for the Senate to As government doctors have emerged as
was too focused on broader health smartly and safely fulfill our constitu- trusted public voices and political figures in
issues and not sufficiently fixated on tional duty to the American people. the face of a fearsome pandemic—appearing
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